Chapter Seven
G race was nervous. Noah had driven Robert to her apartment, introduced him and stayed for a short while. But now as she closed the door behind Noah, Grace felt unsure of herself.
“Miss Stanton?”
She turned toward the boy.
“Yes, Robert?”
“Well, before we started, I just wanted to say something….”
Grace braced herself.
“It’s really great of you to help me. Noah told me about your high-profile career, how accomplished you are. And I want you to know I won’t disappoint you.”
“Of course you won’t,” she replied in a rush of relief.
“And I’m going to pay you.”
“I don’t want your money, Robert. It’s my pleasure to help you.”
“If you won’t take money, then I’ll work it off,” he insisted.
Seeing the pride in his eyes, she wavered. “I don’t have a lot of work that needs to be done. But my aunt Ruth could probably use a hand with her yard.”
His eyes lit up. “Sure.”
She couldn’t prevent a smile at his enthusiasm. “Then I guess we’d better get started. Let’s sit at the table.”
He followed her instructions and she was relieved that he wasn’t staring at her. When they had first been introduced, she’d seen the look in his eyes that struck most people when they saw her extensive bandages. But she guessed that Noah had briefed him, because Robert didn’t ask any questions.
As Noah had told her, Robert was extremely bright. And he was a diligent student. But she could see that he would need quite a bit of instruction. His strengths were in science and math. She couldn’t help wondering if a lack of interest had caused the deficiency in his literary knowledge.
So she talked to him about his other interests, hoping that she could think of a way to tie them in to the classics he needed to conquer. And Grace found herself relaxing and enjoying the chat.
There was a quiet knock on the door. Grace glanced at the clock, surprised to see how much time had passed.
The door opened and Ruth peered around the edge. “Am I interrupting?”
“Not at all. We’re finished for today.”
Ruth walked inside. “Great. I brought cookies.”
“Umm. Chocolate chip.” Grace turned to Robert. “She makes the best cookies in the world. I have milk and soda. Which do you want with your cookies?”
He decided quickly. “Milk.”
“The only drink for cookies,” Ruth agreed, taking the milk from the refrigerator and filling three glasses.
“Living next door to my aunt is like having a twenty-four-hour restaurant and bakery on the premises,” Grace confided as she reached for a cookie.
Grinning, Robert took another cookie when Ruth held out the plate. “Thanks.”
Companionably they munched on the cookies.
Robert drained his glass, then reached for his notebook. “I’d better be going.”
Grace thought of his struggling family and made her voice casual. “Robert, could you do us a favor and take the rest of the cookies? We’re watching our calories and if the cookies are around we’ll blow our diets.”
Robert seemed to accept her story at face value. “Sure. They’re awesome cookies.”
After he left, Ruth met Grace’s gaze. “He’s a nice boy.”
“Yes, he is.”
“And it looks as though your tutoring went well.”
Grace smiled. “I think so. And thanks for picking up on the cookie story.”
Ruth shrugged. “You told me about his family. We have enough, and I like to share what the Lord’s blessed me with.”
Grace sipped her milk, avoiding a reply.
That didn’t deter Ruth. “I had a phone call from Patrick.”
“Hmm.”
“He didn’t have the phone number to your apartment. I had a convenient attack of old age and couldn’t place your number. Want to tell me what’s going on?”
Grace fiddled with the paper napkin. “I didn’t think you’d need one after the demonstration the other night.”
“I have been wondering why he hasn’t been to visit since you’ve come to Rosewood.”
“I wondered about that for about two weeks, then the answer was pretty clear. Remember, he had dozens of excuses while I was in the hospital in Houston.”
Ruth frowned. “I assumed you discouraged him from visiting.”
“Somewhat. But wouldn’t you think he’d come anyway?”
Ruth’s face revealed her opinion, even though she didn’t voice it.
So Grace pressed. “I see you’ve got an opinion. Out with it.”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. This is your life, Grace. I can fuss and hover and love you to pieces, but I can’t determine what’s in your heart. I will say that I think you deserve a man who’s strong…as strong as you are.”
Grace looked at her aunt in surprise. “You think I’m strong?”
“Of course you are. You always have been.”
Grace thought of the fear and uncertainty that had become her life. “I’m not so sure.”
“It’s taken a great deal of courage to come this far. Early in your life you faced great loss and stayed strong. You’ve survived injuries that would have killed most people. And it took strength to offer to tutor young Robert.”
Grace started to protest.
Ruth waved away the words. “You risked rejection and that always requires courage, my dear.” She paused. “I think the Lord is closer than you’re ready to acknowledge. Because He gives us courage.”
Looking down at the well-polished table, Grace saw her distorted reflection. Closing her eyes, she thought of all the loss. Her mother, her father…now her life and career as she had known them. And Patrick.
Funny, if their situations had been reversed, she would have glued herself to his side. She’d thought she had tested him in all the ways that had mattered before she had agreed to marry him.
Perhaps there was no man capable of sticking by through such a horrendous accident. A picture of Noah flashed through her thoughts. But that wasn’t a fair comparison. He was her doctor. If he’d been in her life simply as a man, he probably would have run as quickly as Patrick had.
Ruth’s voice was gentle. “What should I tell Patrick if he calls back?”
Grace looked at her ruined hands. “I doubt it matters.” And though she was able to utter the words in a matter-of-fact voice, the hurt still sliced through her.
How could he have claimed to love her, then deserted her?
It was evident to Grace that Cindy and Katherine were good and close friends. Their rapport was easy, natural. Yet Grace was still nervous, meeting yet another stranger.
“Isn’t this house fabulous?” Katherine was asking. “Cindy decorated it before she and Flynn decided to get married.”
The comment intrigued Grace. She guessed it was meant to. “It’s amazing that she knew his tastes so well.”
Cindy placed an interesting-looking salad on the table. “It was his way of letting me know he appreciated me for myself, not as a substitute for my sister.”
Even though Cindy sounded matter-of-fact, Grace hesitated.
Cindy noticed and smiled. “It’s all right. I know the road to our marriage was unusual, to say the least.”
“We both chose the hard way,” Katherine added.
Grace wondered at Katherine’s story, almost as much as she wondered about the fact that she was a female minister. “But you’re happy now?”
“Ecstatic,” Katherine replied. “And I know how lucky I am.”
“Good men are hard to find,” Grace agreed, unable to keep all the bitterness from her voice. Immediately she regretted it, not wanting to put a damper on the luncheon Cindy had planned. “Sorry. I’m off men at the moment.”
“I’ve been there,” Cindy said, offering a basket of rolls. “And I didn’t have any easy answers, either.”
Grace looked at the faces of the two concerned women. Faces that were whole, lovely. She appreciated their overtures of friendship, but neither could understand how she felt. She pushed the salad around on her plate, noticing the sunflower seeds and dried cranberries. But she had no appetite.
Katherine and Cindy exchanged an anxious glance.
“I know we can’t truly understand what you’re going through,” Katherine said. “We haven’t walked in your shoes, so to speak. But we want to understand, to offer our support.”
“That’s incredibly kind of you,” Grace replied, unable to tamp down the mountain of sadness welling inside.
“It’s an occupational hazard,” Katherine replied, her eyes filled with concern.
“I don’t need a minister,” Grace replied. “I appreciate the offer, but—”
“How about a friend?” Katherine interjected.
“Me, too,” Cindy added.
Grace felt her throat thicken. “You’re both being so wonderful.”
“Nothing of the sort!” Cindy objected. “Friends are the treasures of life.”
“Absolutely,” Katherine chimed in.
“I’m overwhelmed.”
“Good. In that case, we can draft you to help with the Rainbow class.” Cindy raised her eyebrows to punctuate the remark.
Panic replaced gratitude. “I don’t think—”
“Children are very accepting,” Katherine told her gently. “But don’t let Cindy bully you into helping before you’re ready.”
“Me? Bully?” Cindy eyed them with mock outrage. “Would I do that?”
Katherine laughed. “When our church was nearly destroyed by fire, Cindy was climbing all over the scaffolding and dragging along anyone she could find to help. Don’t fall for that innocent look of hers.”
Some of Grace’s tension subsided. “I’ll remember that.”
Cindy groaned. “Katherine, how can I muster volunteers with you around?”
“Oh, I’m quite sure you’ll manage,” Katherine replied tartly.
Cindy rolled her eyes. “See what I have to put up with?”
“I imagine you hold your own,” Grace replied.
Katherine and Cindy both chuckled. And Grace relaxed a fraction more.
Cindy refilled the glasses with a special limeade. “You’ll have to meet our husbands.”
“Another time,” Katherine added. “And the kids, if you want to brave them. We’ve got quite a tribe between us.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready to meet that many new people.”
Katherine clucked sympathetically. “Sorry. Our enthusiasm sometimes outruns our good sense. Let’s just enjoy today. Tomorrow will sort itself out.” She picked up a roll. “Do you know Cindy makes these from sprouted wheat? They’re good in spite of that.”
Grace swallowed. She was grateful that they were smoothing over things. But it drove home the starkness of the truth.
Her life would never, ever be the same.
It had been a long day. After lunch, the women had talked, exclaimed over the newest photos of the children and whiled the hours away.
Exhausted, Grace wanted to do nothing but crawl under a comforter and relax in front of an old movie. But she knew Ruth would be expecting a report on the visit.
Taking the back way, Grace entered through the kitchen. Seeing it was empty, she pushed open the swinging door to the living room.
And stopped straightaway.
Patrick sat on the couch beside Ruth.
Seeing Grace, he rose.
Ruth’s words trailed off as she, too, caught sight of her niece.
“Grace, we were just talking about you,” Patrick greeted her.
“I bet.”
He looked shocked by her abrupt response.
Ruth’s face filled with concern. “Grace, I’m sure you’re tired after your long day.”
Patrick didn’t take the hint. “We have a lot to talk about, don’t we, Grace?”
“Do we?”
The smile on his handsome face stretched thin. “Are you going to answer every question with a question?”
“Does that bother you?” she asked perversely.
“I haven’t heard about the progress you’ve made yet.” He angled his head, studying her. “You have fewer bandages than I thought you would.”
Immediately self-conscious, she lost her edge. “Oh.”
“Her surgeries have gone well so far,” Ruth interjected.
Patrick’s gaze wandered over Grace. “You’ve already had some plastic surgery?”
Grace winced beneath the layers of gauze. All of the pain she’d gone through since the accident focused into one sharp jabbing wave.
“Grace doesn’t like to talk about the procedures,” Ruth said hastily.
“Oh…sorry.” Patrick looked first at Ruth, then at Grace. “I figured you’d be used to it by now.”
Grace found her voice. “I’m not sure that ever happens.”
“We can talk about it over dinner,” Patrick replied. “Surely there’s a restaurant open, even in Rosewood.”
Staring at him, Grace wondered how he could be so completely clueless. As though she could possibly feel comfortable in such a situation. “It probably wouldn’t be up to your standards.”
“Probably not,” he replied with a smile. “But I can rough it for one evening.”
“I already have dinner started,” Ruth intervened. “Why don’t you stay and join us?”
Grace wasn’t sure whether to thank or strangle her aunt.
Patrick glanced at his watch. “I can’t stay too long. I have an early meeting in the morning.”
It hadn’t occurred to Grace that Patrick would have driven all the way from Houston for such a short visit. “Ruth, perhaps Patrick and I can talk now. Then he can get back on the road sooner.”
Ruth, always a gracious hostess, rose. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”
The quiet swish of the door swinging closed behind Ruth was the only sound for a few moments.
“So, what brings you here, Patrick?”
“You, of course.”
“Of course?” She angled her head so that the bandaged side was farther away from him. “I don’t think that’s a given. Certainly not after all this time.”
“I was afraid that might be a sticking point,” he replied ruefully, his boyish grin urging her to forgive what he considered a mild trespass.
“A sticking point? You weren’t even certain I would survive when you walked away. And since then…” Raw pain choked off her voice.
“Look, I’m sorry, Grace. It was a foolish, cowardly thing to do. But I’d never had any experience with sick people.”
“I wasn’t sick. I was injured, nearly killed. It’s not quite the same thing as having a tiff that can be patched up with flowers or chocolates.”
He frowned. “You sound as though you don’t want to patch up things.”
Her caustic laugh was laced with pain. “That’s convenient for you, isn’t it? Lay the blame on me. You walk away unscathed, able to tell everyone how you tried and how unreasonable I was.”
“Clearly you’re not thinking straight. Perhaps I should come back when you’re feeling better.”
“That may not happen.”
Patrick stood up. “I’ll call you.”
She couldn’t reply without lashing out, so she remained quiet.
He walked to the front hall, then turned back for a moment. “Goodbye, Grace.”
“Goodbye.” It was all she could manage, and even that single word was an incredible effort.
As she watched him through the window, she saw that he checked his watch as he walked to his car. She guessed his mind had already skipped ahead to his next obligation.
That’s all she was to him anymore. An obligation. An uncooperative one, at that.
Chapter Eight
N early two weeks later, Noah stood at the barbecue pit in his backyard, gazing at the hot coals. Friends were starting to filter through the gate, and the low rumble of conversation scattered around him.
He hadn’t invited too many people. The members of his band, friends from church and his family. Then, on an impulse, he’d invited Grace and her aunt.
Although he had intended to broaden the distance between them, he was worried about Grace. Her depression was a visible thing and Ruth had again asked for his help. He hadn’t been able to refuse.
He thought Grace would be comfortable at the barbecue. She had met everyone he had invited except for his family. The open acceptance she’d received from Cindy, Katherine, Robert and the members of his band had given her the courage to risk meeting a few people.
When his friends had heard about Grace’s unfortunate accident, each had been eager to help her ease into new situations and become a part of the community. Cindy and Katherine had convinced her to meet their families, and she had done well on those outings.
Still, he knew Grace was anxious. This would be her first group situation. He didn’t count the numerous times she went to his office or the hospital. There she was in the company of other injured or ill people.
Noah had told Grace that he had also invited his family. When she balked, he reminded her of his mother’s accident. His family had heard about Grace and wanted to meet her.
His mother, in particular, had felt an instant empathy with Grace when she’d heard her story. But all of his family was sensitive to the injuries Grace had received.
Even though her anxiety was visible, Grace reluctantly agreed that she would meet them, as well.
Leaving the grill, Noah checked the long table he had set up on the rear deck to hold the food. Everyone would bring a dish—salads, baked beans and desserts. His specialty was barbecuing brisket, a long, slow process that made the meat tender and succulent.
He reached for a few more folding outdoor chairs to add to the ones he had already set up in the yard. The large lawn was one of the many things he liked about his nineteenth-century home. The generous grassy area was only a portion of the acreage that had come with the house. There was still plenty of land in slowly growing Rosewood, so there wasn’t a rush to reduce yards to the postage-stamp size often found in larger cities.
For the most part, Noah had kept the integrity of the original house. He liked the faded brick, the tall, distinctive gables and the charm only age could provide.
He had added the wide, long wraparound deck to the rear of the house, but he hadn’t sacrificed any of the tall, aged trees that provided enough shade to cool the hottest Texas days. They, along with decades-old rosebushes and gardenias, defined the large space, making it cozy, inviting.
Glancing around the yard, Noah realized he had made more preparations for this barbecue than any social event he could remember.
This fact should have made him reconsider the gathering. He knew better than to invest his emotions in a patient.
Hearing a noise at the side gate, Noah walked across the yard and saw the object of his thoughts. “Grace, welcome.”
She smiled, glancing around anxiously. “Hi.”
Ruth was only a few steps behind. “Noah, I can smell that brisket a block away!”
Having always liked this spunky, caring woman, he found it easy to joke with her. “Meets with your approval, then?”
“You cooked the beef slow, didn’t you?”
He grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I may never leave, then,” she declared, walking toward the brick pit at the other side of the yard.
Grace glanced around nervously. “Is your family here?”
He took her elbow. “They should be here any time now. My family’s really looking forward to meeting you.”
He could see her swallow. “Me, too.”
“It’s all right to be nervous. But you’ll see how easy they are to be with.”
“It’s still so difficult….” She paused. “I want that to change, though.”
“Then it will.”
“Just like that?”
“You’re doing something about it. You could have refused to come today, or to meet the people you have so far.”
She nodded reluctantly. “I suppose so. But my behavior is so different from what it once was. I was accustomed to dealing with large numbers of people on a daily basis.”
Noah thought of her executive career. “And you thrived on it.”
“Yes. But I can’t resume my old life with my new face.”
He studied her expression. “And if we succeed with the surgery?”
She looked pensive. “I’m afraid to speculate on that.”
Spotting Cindy approaching, he didn’t comment. If he succeeded with Grace’s surgery, she would go back to Houston. He wasn’t sure why that was unsettling.
After greeting Noah, Cindy linked her elbow with Grace’s and together they strolled toward the deck.
Michael Carlson and Flynn Mallory approached Noah. Both were good friends. At one time Flynn had misconstrued Noah’s friendship with Cindy.
But after Flynn and Cindy were engaged, Flynn thawed. And since their marriage, a genuine friendship had grown between Flynn and Noah.
Flynn glanced toward Grace, who was still chatting with Cindy. “She’s holding up pretty well.”
“It’s early, though.” Noah casually glanced in her direction, as well. “I hope this isn’t too much for her.”
Michael’s gaze narrowed. “Is there more to you and Grace than doctor and patient?”
Despite his confused feelings, Noah shook his head. “No.”
Michael’s gaze reflected a shared understanding. “There’s no crime in having your relationship evolve into one of another sort. I’m living proof of that.”
Noah glanced at her again. “Even if she weren’t my patient, Grace is a big-city woman. There’s nothing for her in Rosewood.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Flynn interjected.
“Michael, Katherine’s signaling for you.”
“Ah. She probably needs help with the lawn chairs in the car.”
As Michael left, Noah spotted his parents arriving. Of all the people he knew, his mother could best relate to Grace. But he also wondered if her residual scarring would be off-putting to Grace.
He kissed his mother’s taut cheek. Her scars had never bothered him, other than for any distress it might cause her. However, Abigail Brady had assured him she was satisfied with her face. She had been an exceptionally attractive woman before the accident, but she hadn’t mourned the loss.
Yet he had offered to find her another surgeon if she wished to pursue more restorative surgery. But she insisted she had made peace with the results.
His father, Joseph, glanced around the yard. “Hello, son.”
“She’s over there,” Noah told him, reading the question on his father’s face. “With Cindy.”
“Your brothers and sisters should be arriving soon,” his mother added. “Danielle has to work late, but everyone else should be more or less on time.”
His pack of siblings were as different as the colors in a crayon box. But that made them more interesting, in his opinion.
“Dad, do you want to take a look at the barbecue pit?”
Joseph’s glance was pointed. “Subtle, Noah. No problem. I’ll make myself scarce while you introduce your mother to your young lady.”
Noah raised his eyebrows.
“Fine,” his father amended. “Your patient.”
Joseph headed toward the old brick pit, and Noah’s mother took his arm. “Don’t mind your father. You know what a hopeless romantic he is.”
“That’s because he lassoed the greatest girl on the planet.”
She smiled softly. “Don’t tell him, but I got the best part of the bargain. So, how’s Grace handling the barbecue so far?”
“She looked nervous when she arrived, but Cindy’s put her at ease.”
“It helps to have a friend.”
“I’m hoping you will be one, as well,” Noah confided.
“Let’s see which way the wind blows, shall we?”
“Mother, I don’t think Grace is so shallow that she’ll pull back because you have a few scars.”
“I’m not suggesting she is. But I remember how it felt at that stage—the fear, the disbelief. It’s terrifying to believe you’ll never be pretty again.”
“You’re lovely, Mother.”
“And you’re a sweet boy. But it’s more than a few scars. Luckily, treatment has come a long way. And she’s fortunate that you’re her doctor.” Abigail smiled again. “Now, hadn’t you better introduce me to Grace before the rest of the pack gets here?”
“That’s a wonderful way to speak of your other children,” he said with a grin.
She raised one eyebrow. “Other? You’re one of that pack.”
Chuckling, Noah led her across the lawn. He was glad to see that Cindy was off gathering soft drinks. This was an introduction he preferred to have without an audience.
Grace turned toward him, glancing at his mother, as well.
Noah introduced them. To his relief, Grace smiled warmly at his mother. “I’m so glad to meet you, Mrs. Brady.”
“Please call me Abigail.”
Grace looked at the woman who had raised such a kind, strong son. And she saw the same qualities shining in her eyes. “I’d like that, Abigail.”
Noah quietly moved away.
And Abigail studied Grace. “Noah was right.”
Grace suddenly felt nervous. “About what?”
“You’re warm and friendly.”
Grace’s lips trembled. “I’m afraid I haven’t been since I’ve come to Rosewood.”
Abigail nodded in understanding. “It’s hard to be yourself when you’re not sure exactly who that is anymore.”
It was a tremendous relief to speak with someone who could relate so completely. “I haven’t really been able to talk to anyone about it.”
“Because they’re eager to give you assurances they can’t be sure of themselves. And they can’t truly understand how it feels.”
Grace sighed. “I know it sounds ridiculous, but it’s as though I’m the first person who ever faced this. Of course I know I’m not—”
“But it still seems that way. And few of us have someone to soften the way, to clue us in on how we’ll feel.”
“I’ve had so many questions, so many doubts….”
Abigail met her eyes. “And those will continue until you’re certain of the final results. But that’s not a bad thing. I’m convinced it’s human nature. I can tell you it gets better, though.”
“Were you able to go back to your former life?” Grace asked, hoping she wasn’t offending the other woman.
“Yes. And it made me realize how precious each day is. And the feeling didn’t fade. I still wake up mornings grateful for my husband and family, for all my blessings.”
Grace nodded.
“I imagine it’s far too early for you to feel that way. You have more surgeries ahead of you. But luckily you have a premier surgeon to perform them.”
Smiling, Grace acknowledged the words. “I think he’s far more talented than the doctors in Houston. Look.” With great effort she stretched the fingers of her right hand slightly. “They told me this would never happen, but Noah refused to believe it.”
“That’s my boy.”
“And he’s an exceptional one.”
Abigail smiled, her voice soft. “Yes, he is. Most surgeons of his caliber would still be living in a big city, raking in a fortune. I don’t know if he told you, but when I had my accident, it bankrupted the family. All of our money was gone nearly at once with the overwhelming medical bills. And then there was the cost of moving to Houston to get the care I needed. The people of Rosewood donated enough money to make sure we had everything we needed. Without them, well…we might not be having this discussion. Their generosity made a huge impact on Noah. He was driven to give back to them. And he also wanted to make sure no other family had to go through what we did—being uprooted, leaving our home simply to get proper medical care. So he established a foundation.”
Grace was intrigued. “I heard him mention the foundation once, but he didn’t say what it was for.”
“It’s to provide money for medical care to any Rosewood citizen who needs but can’t afford it. Noah holds fund-raisers to bring in money for new equipment.”
“Is the foundation working?”
Abigail smiled. “To date, they haven’t turned away a single person in need. And our hospital keeps up with the evolving technology.”
“That’s amazing.” Grace met Abigail’s gaze. “You’re proud of him.”
“He makes that easy.” Abigail’s voice softened. “And Noah’s proud of you.”
Shocked, Grace looked at her in surprise. “Me? Whatever for?”
“Your courage. He knows from firsthand experience how difficult that can be to muster.”
“I don’t have courage,” Grace confessed. “I’m scared most of the time.”
“It takes courage to simply be standing here today.”
“That was Noah’s doing!”
“You are a sweet girl.” Abigail glanced over toward her son. “Noah was right about that, as well.”
Grace guessed that the unbandaged portion of her face was pinkening with both pleasure and embarrassment.
“I was afraid you might have been put off once you saw me,” Abigail continued.
Grace looked at her in astonishment. “Why?”
Abigail reached up to touch her cheek that still bore the scars of the explosion. “For obvious reasons.”
“This may sound crazy—” Grace hesitated, “—but I could see the kindness in your eyes, and my first impression was how lovely you are.”
Abigail’s wise, knowing eyes misted. “You are a rare treasure.”
Grace bit her lips, willing away the tears of sudden emotion. “I’m going all wobbly.”
“Even strong women like ourselves need to lean now and then.”
“Thank you for talking to me. I don’t know if it stirs painful memories—”
“Not really. The pain is all in the past for me.”
Grace wondered if she would ever truly feel that way.
Abigail glanced across the yard. “I’m glad you’re up to meeting new people, because my clan’s a crowd in itself. My husband and children are headed this way.”
Grace could hear the fondness in Abigail’s voice and she saw the love shining in her eyes. In that moment Abigail’s scarring seemed to disappear.
Noah’s siblings were as welcoming as he had promised. Their mother’s accident had heightened their sensitivity. And to her relief, they acted refreshingly normal. They joked, laughed and teased her and each other.
It had been difficult to be treated as a fragile flower. Today she was an ordinary petunia, rather than a rare, exotic orchid.
Glancing around the yard, Grace marveled at the number of people she had allowed in her life because of Noah. It hadn’t been that long since she had been frightened to meet Cindy. And the circle continued to widen.
These were good, kind people. They were far different from the people she had met while fast-tracking her career in Houston. Those people had sent flowers at the time of the accident, but not one had taken a personal interest.
Yet the people of Rosewood rallied like old friends. Glancing across the lawn, Grace realized the force behind their commitment.
It was Noah who tied them all together.
An unexpected lump lodged in her throat. She was his project. Everything today was evidence of that—the carefully chosen guests, the talk with his mother.
For all that she was grateful to Noah for what he had done, she hated to think she had become a cliché. A patient becoming too attached to her doctor.
And a woman who could no longer trust her own judgment.
Chapter Nine
“I ’m honored,” Cindy announced the following week, studying her menu. “I’ve never been part of a therapy celebration.”
“I hope I’m not being too optimistic,” Grace replied. “But I have a good feeling about the progress with my hand.”
Cindy nodded. “I can understand that. You have a great doctor.”
Grace thought of all the stories she had heard about Noah from his mother and his friends. “He’s beginning to sound like Saint Noah.”
Shrugging, Cindy reached for a packet of sugar. “It’s hard to find many men like him. He gives up his own social life to hold fund-raisers for his foundation. He’s managed to involve the entire community in bake sales, car washes and festivals. Katherine says he does more on his own than her entire fund-raising committee for the church.” Cindy stirred the sugar into her iced tea. “And that’s only one part of him. He volunteered to be the music director, and not only has it revitalized the choir, he’s drawn in the youth. The church isn’t large enough to afford a separate youth minister, but Noah’s filled the gap. He has a natural way with young people. They trust him and he never lets them down.”
Grace thought of Patrick and how he had let her down. “Noah sounds too good to be true.”
Cindy’s expression grew contemplative. “I suppose so. But he’s for real.”
Grace drew a line through the drops of condensation on her glass. “Do you see everyone this clearly?”
“Everyone, or men?”
Grace considered hedging, but Cindy was becoming a good and trusted friend. “Men.”
“Ah. There I have less than twenty-twenty vision. You’ve heard my story. But I do have my moments. Why?”
Grace told her about Patrick, the plans they had made and her disappointment in him after the accident.
“Whew. That’s tough. Do you think he just got taken for a loop? That he really can come through for you?”
Grace hesitated. “I keep wondering how I didn’t see him clearly. And if that means I don’t have the ability to judge a man for what he really is.”
Cindy searched Grace’s eyes. “Do you believe Patrick is without any merit?”
“I think he came upon the most difficult thing he’d ever faced and it was too much for him.”
“Could he have changed? Perhaps learned from it and grown?”
“Even if he has, I’m not sure I could ever get over my disappointment in him. And it’s not because I don’t believe in second chances. It’s that I’m afraid I didn’t know him as I thought I did.” She rumpled her napkin. “I agreed to marry Patrick—that should have been the most important decision in my life. And I made a mess of it.”
“I waited to marry because it was just as important to me. I thought I’d made an equal mess of things, too.” She paused, then met Grace’s eyes. “But I never doubted Flynn.”
Swallowing, Grace nodded. She should have had the same faith in Patrick. “How did you know for sure?”
Cindy’s voice was gentle. “I prayed about it. He’s the only one who knows what our future holds, what is truly best for us.”
Grace didn’t freeze. But her doubts couldn’t allow her to agree, either. Surely a kind and loving God wouldn’t want to steal away her parents one at a time, leave her alone, then subject her to horrific injuries that ended the career she loved.
“Why don’t you try coming to church with me?” Cindy suggested. “You’re not likely to work out your doubts about Him alone.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It rarely is.” Cindy met her eyes. “Flynn no longer believed when he became part of my life. And it wasn’t easy. He didn’t wake up one morning and decide he was ready to accept the Lord again. He had to work through what had pulled him away. And they weren’t little problems. It took a lot of forgiveness and soul-searching on his part.”
“And now?”
“He’s happier than he has been in decades.”
Grace wished she could devise a happily-ever-after for herself. “I don’t think that’s going to work for me.”
Cindy didn’t press. “You’ll know in your own time what will work. That’s the beauty of it. All of the Lord’s creatures are individuals with free will.”
“Right now I have more questions than answers.”
“I think that’s true for most of us. And it’s an ongoing process. Because every day brings new problems, new questions.”
Grace thought of the crushing weight she had felt when her father died, when she knew she could no longer count on the faith of her childhood. “I appreciate your advice, but it’s not that easy for me.”
“I respect your decision, but if you want to talk to anyone who’s been through the same experience, Flynn has a good ear. So does Michael Carlson.”
Grace frowned. “They both had lapses of faith?”
“Big time.”
“But Michael’s married to a minister.”
“Which is testament to the fact that even the most difficult situations have a solution.”
Grace wished that could be true for her, but she didn’t believe it would. Still, she didn’t want her new friend to feel rebuffed. “I appreciate you lending an ear. And I’m glad it worked out so well for you and Flynn.”
Cindy reached for another packet of sugar. “Perhaps it will work out for you as well…when you’ve decided who the right man is for you.”
Grace swallowed a sip of her soda, staring down at her bare left hand. She hadn’t worn her engagement ring since the accident.
So who was the right man for her? One who had panicked?
Or one who had guided her over the most torturous route she had ever taken? The same one who was her doctor, she reminded herself. Who would no doubt be amused to learn that she had fallen into such an obvious trap.
But he couldn’t find out—she owed him too much for his friendship.
And she was determined to keep it that way.
A few weeks later, Noah stood at the door of Grace’s apartment, lifting his hand to knock. Before he could, the door whipped open.
Tim, one of the boys he knew from church, stood in front of him. “Hey, Noah!”
“Hi, Tim. I didn’t expect to see you.”
“Grace is tutoring me.”
Noah blinked. “She is?”
“Yeah. Robert asked her if she would. I’ve got to get my scores up on my PSAT.”
Still surprised, Noah nodded. “Sure.”
Grace walked up behind Tim, her gaze going to Noah. “Hi.”
“I didn’t mean to come at a bad time. I had some extra time and thought we could get in a physical therapy session.” Uncomfortably Noah realized he had come to feel proprietary about Grace’s time.
“It’s a perfect time. Tim and I just finished his lesson.”
“See ya,” Tim told them both, trotting down the stairs.
Noah still felt a bit confounded. “I didn’t realize your tutoring program had grown.”
She smiled. “I didn’t expect it, either. But some of Robert’s friends needed help, as well. And I’ve enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Come in.”
He did, glancing around the tidy apartment, seeing the books and papers on the small table. “And you’re all right about meeting new kids?”
“It’s funny, but they don’t seem to see the bandages. Even the larger ones after my last surgery. I thought it might be worse with teenagers, but their agenda is improving grades. Maybe it’s because they’re young that they are so accepting. And I work with each on a one-to-one basis. That makes it easier for me.”
“That’s great.” He reached out, touching a leaf on one of the many plants. “You’ll have a jungle in here soon.”
“Everyone was so generous sending plants after the last surgery. It was especially sweet of your parents—since I’d barely met them.”
“Mom said she feels like she knows you.”
Grace’s eyes softened. “We share a unique bond. And she was so easy to talk with.”
“My friends always liked that about her,” Noah agreed. “So, should we start on your therapy?”
“I already began.”
Noah tried to disregard the prickle of disappointment. “Oh?”
“I made some lemonade. Juicing the lemons gave my left hand quite a workout. But my right one didn’t cooperate. So would you like a glass?”
“Sure. I’m glad you’re attempting more tasks.”
Grace laughed. “I was, too, until I got to about the fifth lemon. Trying to hang on to the lemons with this stubborn right hand, twisting with the left, which is backward to me anyway…Well, I was about ready to start chucking lemons out the windows.”
He found himself grinning. “I’d have loved to see that, especially if Ruth caught you midtoss. Trust me, she’s merciless.”
Grace continued laughing. “Yet you finagled her into growing blackberries.”
“Not everyone has my touch.”
“So you say,” Grace retorted, handing him a glass of iced lemonade.
He held it up to the light. “Should I sift it for seeds?”
She wiggled the wooden stirring spoon at him. “At the peril of your own neck.”
He tasted the lemonade. “Hey, this is good.”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” she reproved him.
“And don’t get too cocky or I’ll draft you to head up a lemonade booth at the next festival.”
Her expression turned thoughtful. “That would be fun, but I wouldn’t be able to make enough lemonade with these hands.”
Instantly he regretted taking her from her light, playful mood. “No problem. We always have volunteers who want to help out—not to mention an electric juicer. We usually have several people in each booth. You could supervise the setup and preparation.”
She looked dubious. “And I could stay in the background?”
“If that’s what you want.”
“Hmm.”
“We need to raise enough money to fund some pretty expensive testing equipment for the hospital. Refreshments have a high profit margin.”
“If you really think I can help…”
“Don’t try to back out,” he countered, seeing the light of hope in her changeling eyes, wanting to keep it there.
Grace smiled in a shy fashion she hadn’t employed before. “Okay.”
“Give me a list of ingredients and I’ll make sure they’re at the booth.”
To his surprise, she shook her head. “No. I want to do that, my contribution.”
Although others often did the same thing, they were permanent members of the community with a vested interest in the outcome. “That’s generous of you.”
“No. It’s generous of you to include me in the community. It makes me feel involved, useful.” She glanced up at him. “I never learned how to be idle. I don’t think I have it in me to be happy without working.”
Instantly he thought of her career and all the big-city perks it offered. Things she couldn’t be happy without.
Grace glanced at the clock. “It’s later than I thought. Would you like to stay for dinner after therapy?”
“My parents are expecting me.”
Her expression dimmed. “Oh.”
“Why don’t you come with me?” he found himself asking, hating to see the light go out of her eyes. “It’s just a casual dinner.”
“Your mother’s not expecting me,” she protested.
“With six kids, you always cook enough for anyone they might bring home. Mom still makes enough to feed a small army. And I know she’d be glad to see you.”
Grace’s eyes today were the greenish-blue of the outfit she wore. They glided into the color of clear, warm ocean water. “It sounds like fun.”
“It’s noisy, somewhat crazy—yeah, it’s fun.”
Grace’s lips rose in a smile. “Fun can be good.”
Seeing the unaccustomed happiness dancing in her eyes, he agreed. “Yes, it can.”
Grace wasn’t sure exactly what to expect when she walked into the Brady home. But Noah was right. The noise hit her first. At least a dozen different conversations were going on simultaneously. And they didn’t stop when she and Noah entered.
His mother noticed them, and a smile lit her face when she recognized Grace. Skirting the long table, Abigail approached them. “Grace, I hope Noah’s brought you for dinner.”
“If it’s not any extra trouble.”
Abigail laughed. “Never in this house. Even though two of my children have married, and they’ve all left home, I can’t seem to cook in small portions.” She took Grace’s good hand. “You remember everyone, don’t you?”
“I think so.” Grace noticed that there was constant movement in the Brady home. Snatches of conversation floated by as the siblings caught up on the week’s activities.
When she’d been young, Grace had dreamed of having a large family, a mass of brothers and sisters to enliven the house. But there had been no siblings. That was another prayer that had gone unanswered.
When they settled around the table, Abigail took the place at her husband’s right. Throughout the chatter, laughter and clinking of china and silverware, Grace was aware of the tender looks that passed between the elder Bradys.
Grace couldn’t help wondering just how Joseph saw his wife. Was he aware of her remaining scarring? Or did he still see her as his unmarred, beautiful young bride?
Either way, she guessed they shared an enviable bond. The house echoed with laughter, and their love had spilled over on their children. It was exactly the kind of home Grace had always dreamed of.
Noah leaned closer. “Do you feel like you’re having dinner in Grand Central Station?”
“Yes.” She smiled. “In a good way. It must have been wonderful growing up in a big family.”
“I didn’t know anything else, but I wouldn’t trade any one of the aggravating, noisy lot. But I can remember envying friends with smaller families. At the time it seemed as though that meant they got a lot more than I did.”
“And now you know differently,” she guessed.
“The struggles, problems and joys you share have no equal.”
Which was what Grace had imagined. “You have a lovely family.”
Noah met her gaze. “Thanks. They mean a lot to me.”
So much so that he had dedicated his life’s work because of them. Grace admired his noble purpose, the fact that he hadn’t let anything stand in his way. He possessed great strength, she realized yet again. A strength that drew her.
Once dinner was over, the family filtered off in many directions. With four pairs of hands in the kitchen, Grace could see her slow, awkward efforts weren’t needed.
“Noah, why don’t you show Grace around the property?” Abigail suggested. “Then we can have ice cream on the porch.”
Noah glanced at Grace. “Sound all right to you?”
“Yes to both.”
They left by the back door. Grace felt her feet sink into the lush lawn. A Victorian lamppost shed a circle of light near the house. In the distance Grace could see an aged gazebo. And as they strolled into the yard, she first heard, then saw a fountain of natural rock, the slowly moving water lapping over several levels of smooth stone.
Noah pointed out a neatly tended vegetable garden. “Ever since Mom’s accident we’ve kept the garden going. We never had the severe money troubles again, but Mom and Dad didn’t want to take any chances. And, in a way, it was our own victory garden.”
The scent of ripening cantaloupes and tomatoes reminded Grace of a charming farmer’s market she used to frequent in Houston. She hadn’t imagined the lure of having fresh fruits and vegetables just steps from the back door.
“I guess I’ve lived in apartments or condos so long I’d forgotten how special a garden could be. My dad and I planted a tree in memory of my mother in our backyard. He said that I could always reach out and touch the leaves, just as my mother was touching heaven.”
“That’s a wonderful sentiment.”
It was difficult to dredge up a smile. “I suppose so. But after he died I had to sell the house so that I could finish college. I wasn’t able to touch the tree anymore.” Nor her mother, or her father.
“There are times when I wonder why some people have so much loss and why others seem to go through life unscathed. But His plan’s greater than we can see.” Noah stopped. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sermonize.”
She brushed away the clinging pain of the issue. “It’s all right. Just don’t expect me to appreciate that plan.”
They strolled past latticework nearly obscured by far-flung bougainvillea. “Everyone to their own time,” he replied quietly. “Faith rarely works on a schedule.”
If at all.
Moonlight streamed over the gleaming gazebo, making it look like a fantasy arbor.
Noah turned to her. “This was my parents’ hideout from us when I was a kid. I’d stumble across them every now and then. They’d be holding hands, talking. I used to wonder how they still had so much to talk about when they’d known each other forever.” He chuckled. “Considering I was about twelve, fourteen years was definitely forever.”
“It sounds as though they were very much in love.” She thought a moment, then amended the words. “Are still in love.”
“You see it?” he asked, surprised.
“Your father looks at your mother as though…”
“She never had the accident?”
Grace nodded.
“I don’t think he sees the scars. I do know that he loves her just as much despite them. When she was hurt his biggest fear was that she would die. He never talked about the disfiguring. I don’t think that was important to him, just that she survived.”
Grace wondered how it would be to know such all-consuming love. One that didn’t require explanation, but was a living, nurturing thing. Her mind flashed to Patrick’s behavior after her accident, the difference a sharp pain. “That’s how love should be,” she murmured. “Just like your parents.”
Noah met her eyes, his own dark with secrets she couldn’t divine. “That’s what I think.”
Instantly Grace wondered if that was why he had waited so long to find just the right person, why he still hadn’t found her. His parents’ ideal was a difficult one to live up to.
“If your mother hadn’t had her accident, do you think you’d have stayed in Rosewood?”
“That’s a complicated question. I might have been lured to the big city, but I wouldn’t have had the insider’s knowledge I gained by moving there when I was in high school. Then again, I might not have had the opportunities, either.”
“And if you hadn’t had the opportunity?”
“I think you know what I believe.”
The Lord’s plan. “What if a person simply chooses to be daring and bold, picking his own career?”
“I imagine that’s done thousands of times every day.” He stopped beneath a towering magnolia tree. “Do you know how slowly these trees grow?”
Grace looked at him cautiously, aware of the sudden diversion. “Very slowly.”
“This tree has been here for a great many years, growing stouter, taller. It seems so permanent that its destiny must have been preordained. But, in fact, a person planted the tiniest seedling.”
“Have you taken to speaking in allegories?”
“No, I’ve taken to walking in the moonlight.”
Grace swallowed suddenly, studying his face. She had been intensely aware of the stars, the moonlight. Of him.
Realizing the danger of her thoughts, she only smiled. Grace knew she couldn’t let Noah know that her emotions were shifting, that her thoughts constantly turned to him.
“Are you all right?” he asked quietly when she didn’t speak.
She nodded, conflicted about her attraction to him.
As she glanced away from him, she saw a big dog running toward them, his tongue lolling to one side.
“Whoa,” Noah commanded. But the large dog stopped by hurling himself at Noah, who took the dog’s unwieldy weight with aplomb. “Where you been, boy?”
The dog looked adoringly at Noah.
“Has he been out here all along?” Grace asked, realizing she hadn’t seen the dog earlier in the evening.
“Probably started chasing rabbits, then it got dark. Columbus has a tendency to roam, always looking for new adventures.”
“Columbus?” she asked, her lips twitching. “As in Christopher Columbus?”
“Yep. Spot didn’t suit him, so…”
“He doesn’t have any spots,” she couldn’t resist pointing out.
“Columbus is part Lab, part Boxer and part something only his mother knows. But apparently not a breed with spots.”
Grace knelt down, petting the friendly dog. Columbus in turn rolled over, presenting his chest to be petted. Grace obliged.
“You’ve made a friend for life,” Noah told her, crouching down as well, watching as she and the dog became acquainted.
“Columbus seems to be a fine friend.”
Noah met her gaze. “So he is.”
Silence strummed between them, broken only by the sound of the dog’s happy panting.
Grace felt her mouth go dry. Surely she imagined the flicker of interest in his expression, the darkening intensity of his eyes. She supposed all of his women patients fell for him. He was not only strong and handsome, he was their rescuer, the one who hoped to heal the worst of their wounds. Thinking it could possibly be more would simply open her up to more pain. And if he turned out like Patrick…It was unthinkable.
Rapidly she rose, afraid to elongate the moment.
Noah rose as well, the dog scrambling up beside them. “The ice cream’s probably about ready.”
Grace nodded, afraid to trust her voice, afraid it would reveal husky overtones of emotion.
Noah guided her toward the front of the house. “Everyone will be on the porch.”
And they were, filling the glider, chairs and steps. Laughter and conversation colored the air.
“What kind of ice cream tonight?” Noah asked his mother.
“Peach. Took your brothers forever to get it all cranked.”
“Cranked?” Grace asked in surprise.
Abigail smiled. “In some ways we haven’t kept up with the passing centuries.”
“She just spoils me,” Joseph said, his arm around her shoulders. “No ice cream can compare to hers.”
Grace thought of the kitchen in her Houston condo, equipped with high-tech appliances and yards of stainless steel. It had suited her in the city, but now its memory was stark in comparison to this home.
Noah scooped generous portions into two dishes. “I guess this all seems pretty small-town and hokey, doesn’t it?”
She accepted the dish he offered. “What makes you say that?”
“I doubt you spent time eating ice cream on the front porch when you were in Houston.”
“You’re right. But—”
“You’ll probably be glad to get back to the big-city pace after you’ve recovered.”
Grace was saddened by the thought of leaving the close-knit community that had become home. “It’s what I’m used to.”
He nodded, then glanced at her bowl. “How’s the ice cream?”
She dipped her spoon into the creamy mixture and tasted. “Incredible. It puts gourmet ice cream to shame.”
“The peaches grow here on the property.”
“This house seems to have everything,” she murmured.
Again the moonlight seemed to fall between them.
“I always thought so,” he replied quietly.
A few minutes later Abigail offered refills, which most everyone eagerly accepted. Grace could understand why her own appetite had withered, but she was surprised to see Noah refuse a second bowl.
When the gathering began breaking up, he glanced at her. “Ready? You have surgery on Friday. Probably shouldn’t be up too late.”
She nodded and they both rose.
Abigail turned to Grace, giving her a gentle hug. “Now that you know the way to our home, you must come often.”
Pulling back, Grace warmed with heartfelt appreciation. As she turned, she met Noah’s gaze and faltered. Somehow she didn’t think he would be bringing her back soon.
And the pain of Patrick’s rejection told her that was for the best. If only her heart would listen to her head.
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